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Staying in the Shadows. (A Naruto Fanfic) Chapter 1 - New Mission.

She was walking through the forest, her left arm injured. A kunai had struck it when she ran into some bandits on her way. She was never really good at fighting, but she knew enough to protect herself. Luckily she couldn't feel the pain her body was in or else she would have collapsed already from it. The bandits had done a good number on her. The sun started setting and she decided to rest under a tree. Her body gave up as soon as she was under the long shade of a tree caused by the setting sun. She removed her lunch box from her bag. The old lady of the inn was kind enough to pack her lunch for her long journey. "You helped my family, it's the least I could do," she had said. She opened the box thanking the lady in her thoughts for her generosity and dug into the curry and rice. Forgetting her manners, she gulped the food down her throat. She couldn't help it though, she was hungry and the state she was in made her even more so. She needed energy to heal. After finishing with a burp, a look of content spread across her features. She packed her stuff and laid her head on her bag, looking at the starry sky above her. Amongst the star she saw a face of little boy no more than the age of eight smiling down at her. His laugh played in her ears. She smiled slightly thinking she would meet him soon. Her eyes began drooping and she slept with thoughts of the boy who she thinks as her son.

She woke up as soon as the sun hit her eyes and started her journey again. Not a few hours later, she reached the place she now called home. It wasn't a home to her before, it was a mere house she could stay in and learn. That was until he was born and she felt like her life had meaning again. She smiled for the first time after many years when she first held him in her arms. He was no bigger than her forearms when he opened his eyes and looked at her the very first time. His eyed held resemblance to his father, only his were filled with emotions and his father's were cold.

She reached the door and started walking down the stairs further into the house. The house was silent. No one came to greet her. I wonder what happened, she thought. He always rushed to greet her whenever she cane back from her missions, wondering what bought him this time. She walked into a room which was filled with chemicals and computers attached to machines which were further attached to humans. She saw the black haired man near a "specimen" as he likes to call it and walked to him. "Lord Orochimaru," she bowed.

Orochimaru was her sensei, kind of. He had been training her in medical jutsu for years now. However this took a lot of begging of course. She didn't like the man per se, but he had helped her when no one else had. He gave her hope in her times of despair.  He was helping her do the impossible and she was desperate enough for any sliver of hope. Sure, it came with a price but the price brought even more joy in her life. She didn't mind.

"Hn, did you bring what I asked you to?" his calm, pompous voice asked. "Yes, my lord."

"Good," he said turning around to face her and raising his palm towards her. She placed the herb she brought from the Land of Tea on his palm. He turned back and continued his work. "How did you gather it, my dear, hm?" he asked knowingly. "I, uh, bought it my lord. From a lady living in an inn near the mountains," she said looking down, ashamed of herself that she didn't carry out the mission as it was instructed to her. He had asked her to steal it as the herb was expensive and the use of it was forbidden. He didn't want any one looking into the matter as to who would buy such herb, especially not the sixth Hokage and his students. "You are as weak as ever. You paid her off with the travel money didn't you?" he looked back at her. She didn't reply, her head still down. "I keep telling you Jinko, you need to train more. You need to get stronger. Remember last time when you couldn't protect yourself?" She didn't reply still, the memory floating in her eyes. Her jaw clenched as she tried hard not to cry, not in front of him. "You cost the man's life," he continued. He saw her body tense, he knew she would cry as soon as she left his presence. He sighed, "You need to learn to fight, Jinko. You have the capability. What you know isn't enough to save your life let alone some one else's. I would have Log train you but I can't. You have another mission."

She looked him in the eye now. "Mitsuki, he ran away, to Konoha," he said simply. "Why?" she exclaimed. He shrugged.

"And you didn't stop him?"

"He became too powerful."

"This was bound to happen! After all the things you put him through!"

"He became stronger didn't he?" he sighed. "That's what I wanted."

"Do you want me to follow him?" she asked. Orochimaru shook his head.

"No, I want you to be with him."

Jinko's eyes widened. "B-but what about him?" she asked, looking at the body beside them.

"I'll take care of him. You look after Mitsuki and I will help you, that was the deal wasn't it?"

Jinko looked at her feet. She wasn't sure if she should trust this man. She wanted to go after Mitsuki but she wanted to stay here too. What if he does something wrong to him? She looked at the body again. The body of her love. Tears filled her eyes. She was torn between going after Mitsuki, who was like her son or staying here with the man she loved the most, instead. Orochimaru saw the unsureness in her eyes.

"Jinko." He chastised her. "I told you I'll hold my end of the bargain if you hold yours. Nothing will happen to your beloved. You could come every week if you want to."

"But won't you need my assistance?" she knew she was kidding herself when she asked him. He wouldn't need her.

"Do you think I need to depend on someone?" he asked harshly. "Besides, you won't be of any use to me now that the next step has begun. It is beyond your scope now. As far as your training goes, you could do it your self. Take the scrolls with you if you want, but remember to guard them with your life. No one should lay a hand on it."

She had no choice but to leave it at the hands of fate. If it was in her destiny that she could see the love of her life again, she would. Reluctantly, she agreed. She walked towards his body, seeing him for the last time. His hair that she loved so much looked dead. His skin pale, and his breathing shallow. "Good bye, my love," she said as a tear slipped down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and nodded towards her sensei. She went to her room and grabbed her stuff and some of Mitsuki's too, she knew he would need them.

She walked out of the compound of the hideout, and started in the opposite direction she came in not an hour ago, in the direction of the village hidden in the leaves. Konoha.

"I'm coming Mitsuki."

Staying in the Shadows (A Naruto fanfic). Chapter 2 - A Promise Made.

Jumping through the trees, Jinko hoped to catch up with Mitsuki as soon as possible. What if he gets into some trouble? She hurried, making her legs work beyond their capacity to increase her speed. All those years of running away had paid her off. Even though her legs where cramping and her lungs were straining for oxygen, she couldn’t stop. Not only because she didn’t want to but to her this pain was nothing. She was used to this. Years of being hunted down and fearing for her life, this pain was nothing compared to the dread of being caught. Jinko could feel his chakra getting stronger and soon she sighed in relief as she saw a grey haired boy sitting under a tree eating some berries. “Mitsuki!” she called.

Jinko landed in front of him, gracefully. “What are you doing here?” Mitsuki asked her incredulously. “You think I could let you go alone?” she smiled. Mitsuki’s eyes widened, “You’re not here to bring me back?”

Jinko shook her head and gave him a smile. Mitsuki visibly relaxed after hearing the words leaving her mouth. He was expecting someone to follow him and take him back. He expected it to be Log but he was glad that it was only Jinko, who wasn’t there bring him back to Orochimaru but to be with him. If Mitsuki was to be honest, he would admit that he was worried of moving to a new place. Would they accept him for being Orochimaru’s son? Will he meet Boruto ? These questions plagued him. Being away from the lab for the first time was nerve wracking. Sure, he enjoyed the freedom but he didn’t how to act among people. The only people he held a conversation was with Orochimaru, Log and Jinko. What if the people think he is weird?

Jinko knew Mitsuki was worried. It was evident on his face. She couldn’t think of anything to say to make him feel better. Not when she was worried herself. The thought of stepping into that village again and see those people she once knew, made her palms sweat. To see them moved on where as she was still stuck in her life, since the day she left the village. To see them happy while she was a miserable mess, just like before. Jinko let out an audible sigh. She shouldn’t be thinking of herself right now, Mitsuki needed her more. She sat beside him, placing her hands on her raised knees. “Why Konoha?” she asked looking at him.

Mitsuki looked up at the sky. “I want to meet him. The son of the Nine Tails Jinchūriki. Boruto Uzumaki,” he said wishfully. Jinko remembered the conversation she had with Orochimaru before she left.

“Jinko.” Orochimaru stopped her before she stepped out the doorway. She turned around and bowed her head. “Make sure he meets Boruto Uzumaki.”

Jinko looked confused. Orochimaru smirked before explaining, “I want him to forge his own path in life. I hope I don’t have to erase his memories for the seventh time. I want him to be a light in the darkness. I didn’t think it would be possible. After all, both him and Log are my children.”

Jinko’s eyes widened when a realization hit her. “You intended him to leave. This was all your plan?”

“If he can find a Yang who will always be at his side and illuminate his path, then just maybe..” Orochimaru paused, his eyes glowing with the glimpses of his past. “And with the Yin at his side, that child will become the Yang and surely illuminate the darkness. He is no longer a cracked vessel of earth, but a brilliant moon who illuminates the bright sky,” he smirked. “That sounds about right.” Jinko saw a ghost of a smile across his face. Though only for a moment.

“I want you to look after him and help him find his Yang, Jinko. I can’t ask anyone better than you for this job. I believe in you.” Jinko’s eyes widened at his words. Her lips trembled, as she heard words that never left even her lips let alone someone else’s. His words touched her heart and fueled determination in her. That moment she promised herself that she will make sure that Mitsuki find his Sun, no matter what.

Jinko smiled at Mitsuki fondly while he explained how he will be a great ninja and he will be better than Orochimaru. ’Oh, how he have grown,’ she thought to herself. It seemed not very long ago that he was throwing a tantrum because she didn’t bring anything for him from her mission.

“Okay, enough resting!” Mitsuki stood up suddenly. “We have to get to Konoha as soon as possible. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Staying in the Shadows (A Naruto Fanfiction) Chapter 3 - Part II.

Part I Chapter 1 Chapter 2 

Jinko remembered the next day to be the worst survival training she had ever done and that's saying something.

Kakashi sensei instructed each of them to grab a bell which were hanging from his jacket. The problem was there were only three bells rather than four. Meaning one of them was going back to the Academy. All they had to do was to attack him with the intent to kill. Everyone hid themselves amongst the trees and the bushes. Everyone except of Naruto. "Okay you and me right here!" he charged at Kakashi. Jinko pinched the bridge of her nose annoyed. Baka!

Before Naruto did any harm, (not that he could have), Kakashi sensei got behind him and poked him in the butt. "Thousand years of death!" he yelled and Naruto was sent flying into the pond. Seeing this everyone got into action and attacked Kakashi. But Kakashi wasn't a layman, he was a Jonin. The four genins were not even in the same league as him even if combined. Each of them tried their best to catch hold of those bells but none succeeded. Although, Sasuke came quite close. Jinko saw from her hiding place in the bushes that he almost had it. His fingers graced them but Kakashi sensei was fast, he moved away quickly. Jinko thought it was now her chance to attack him as he would be caught off guard. She jumped out with her hands balled in a fist. "Hyaaa!" she yelled, but Kakashi quickly blocked her punches with his mere palms, while still focusing on Sasuke. "You're punches are pathetic," he chastised her. Jinko's mouth opened and a gasp left her lips. Jinko had given all her energy into that punch but he didn't even flinch. Jinko put her other hand in her sachet and pulled out a kunai. Her hand moved towards his arm which was holding her fist but Kakashi simply slapped her kunai away. "You expect such attacks to hurt me?" he sighed. He straightened up and let Jinko's hand go. Jinko fell on her butt with a thud. She looked around and found that Sasuke had taken this opportunity to run away. "I'm giving you one more chance," Jinko looked up at Kakashi. "Hide wherever you want. You take this seriously and attack me with all your strength. If you are going to just play around then don't waste your breath." Kakashi then disappeared leaving Jinko on the ground. Jinko couldn't believe he thought she was not taking this seriously. She really wanted to hurt him and take those bells. What did he mean 'stop playing around'? She wasn't. She came at him with the intention to kill, like he asked them to. Suddenly Sakura's scream was heard through the forest ground. Jinko stood up and ran in her direction. She saw Sakura lying on the ground and rushed forward, however Kakashi sensei jumped out of nowhere and aimed his fist at her. Jinko couldn't block his punch and fell to the ground.

This happened many times. Jinko tried to attack Kakashi and he didn't even need look up from his book to block her. She made a clone and attacked him but the clone was as good as her. She couldn't block the attacks of Kakashi either. She had been hit in the stomach twice and once in her upper arm. Kakashi had disappeared and Jinko was heaving. She didn't have anymore chakra left for another attack. She fell to the ground. The sun was above her head and Jinko could hear the faint ringing of the timer. She got up and started walking towards the stumps where they had began their training. It took all of Jinko's strength to not fall over. As she reached the stumps, Jinko saw Naruto tied to one of them. Sakura and Sasuke sitting on his each side of Naruto and Kakashi sensei was standing before them.

"There you are Jinko!" Naruto said as he saw her walking towards them. "I was wondering where you were. We've all been waiting for you." Suddenly, Naruto's stomach growled. "Uh oh, stomach's growling huh? That's too bad," Kakashi said. "Oh by the way, about this exercise, I've decided. I won't send any of you back to the academy."

Jinko couldn't believe her ears. He's not going to send us back, she thought. "I'm going to drop you from the programme. Permanently." Kakashi finished. Naruto and Sakura yelled in disbelief. Sasuke got up and attacked him with a kunai. Kakashi flung him to the ground and stepped on his body with his foot on Sasuke's head and his arm holding Sasuke's behind his back. "You can't step on Sasuke like he is some kind of bug!" Sakura yelled.

Jinko couldn't hear all the commotion around her. All her brain was capable to think currently was that she wasn't going to be a ninja ever in her life. Jinko wasn't surprised. She was pathetic today no wonder he is dropping her.

"You all think it's a game. Did you determine what's the point of this exercise? Why are all of you put in a team and not individually?" Kakashi explained calmly. Not individually? Because a team is supposed to act together. Otherwise they are no good. "Team work," Jinko said looking down at her feet.

"Yes. Team work. If you all had figured that out and worked together you might have taken the bells."

"Wait a minute!" Sakura yelled. "There were only three bells and four of us. If we had worked together only three of us would have the bells and that would lead to group conflict and fights!"

"Exactly. I pitted you against each other. I wanted to see if you could over come that and put your team ahead first. But it didn't even cross your mind," he explained. "Sakura! You were so obsessed with Sasuke when he was gone but you didn't help Naruto who was right in front of you."

He then addressed Naruto, "You, Naruto, do everything alone. Everything." Kakashi then angled his foot which was rested on Sasuke's head, pushing it more against the ground, "And you Sasuke, you think others are so far beneath you they were worthless. Arrogance." Kakashi hissed.

He then looked at Jinko and his eyebrow crease eased. "As for you Jinko," Jinko looked up. "For not having any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu I expected your Taijutsu to be strong. Unfortunately, it wasn't." "I have ninjutsu! I can produce a shadow clone!" Jinko defended herself. Kakashi was taken aback. "Oh. Well. You are too weak then." He scratched the back of his head. Jinko looked down. She remembered what she had said the other day on the rooftop. She wanted to be the best kunoichi. Guess she was just aiming too high.

Kakashi then demonstrated how during a mission the enemy can take someone hostage and one of them can get killed if they didn't follow team work. He also mentioned the heroes who were K.I.A. but Jinko wasn't listening. She was focused on not letting her tears slip from her eyes. She felt hopeless.

"Alright. I'll give you all one more chance," he looked at them. Jinko looked up, her eyes red. "I'll give you three hours to get those bells. Eat your lunch to build up strength but Naruto won't have any. It's your punishment." Kakashi then walked away leaving them with their lunch boxes.

Everyone sat down and opened their lunch. Jinko was staring at her nails. Naruto's stomach growls again. Jinko sighed. "Here. Take it," Jinko offered her lunch. "No. Jinko it's your food, I can't take it," he protested.

"Take it. I'm not hungry anyway." It was true. Jinko wasn't hungry. Her stomach was churning with her need to cry. She felt as if she had even a bite of food, it wouldn't pass through her throat. She held her dumpling towards his mouth. Naruto opened his mouth and took it in whole. Tears flowed down his face and he was being dramatic about how she cares about him and she is his only best friend. Sakura argued that she was going against Kakashi's instructions and might fail the test.

"Let him." Jinko said adamantly. A surge of anger and rebellion was flowing through her. She was angry at herself, her luck and maybe even Kakashi. Jinko didn't know why she was so angry even when it was true and Kakashi didn't mean her any harm. He was just doing his job.

"Jinko is right. We need to work as a team and for that Naruto needs his strength," Sasuke sided with Jinko. He offered his rice balls to Naruto. Seeing this Sakura gave her food too claiming she was on a diet. Naruto began sobbing earnestly about how wonderful friends they are and he was grateful to have them.

The atmosphere changed quickly. There were black clouds surrounding them. Thunder rumbling. Sakura tumbled back with fright. Naruto, Jinko and Sasuke stood still with their eyes wide. "You!" Kakashi jumped out of nowhere. His face to the closest proximity of Naruto's. "You all passed." He said with a closed eyed smile.

"What?" Naruto yelled.

"Yes, you all passed. You helped your team mate when he needed you," Kakashi replied.

"But you said not to feed him?" Sakura asked incredulously.

"Yes. In the shinobi world, you're required to follow your instructions and those who don't are considered scum. But those who leave their comrade behind are even worse than scum," Kakashi explained calmly.

And hence, Team 7 was formed.

Jinko's reminiscence was interrupted when the door to the office opened and the guard from earlier stepped out. "You can go in," he said, holding the door for them.

Mitsuki and Jinko walked in. The room looked quite modest. Almost nothing had changed since she last saw it. The office looked as bland as it did in the earlier days when she used to come with Team 7 for her missions. Two guards were standing near an office desk. Jinko eyed the masked man sitting on a chair in front of the desk, with his signature bored expression. Jinko felt nostalgic for her childhood days but then she remembered those years and how even breathing was painful and the hair on her neck stood up. Mitsuki had shrunken behind her, clutching the obi of her dress.

Jinko bowed her head. "My lord," she said. Jinko hoped she looked presentable. She wanted to make a good impression. Perhaps, to wipe out her first those many years ago. She slid her hand on the sides of her houmongi, hoping to straighten any crease.

Kakashi's eyes never left her. He looked at her from top to toe. The last time he saw her she was only thirteen. And now she stood, seventeen years later, a full grown woman. She turned out good, he thought. After all, the family was of a feudal lord. The yellow colour of her houmongi brought out her black eyes. Her black, silky hair was tied in a bun. His eyes fell on Mitsuki who was clutching her hand. Look at that, she is a mother now.

"Jinko Eguchi."

"Lord Hokage," Jinko bowed. Eguchi? Mitsuki wondered.

"What brings you here?"

"My lord, I wish to admit Mitsuki—," she placed a hand on Mitsuki's back and nudged him forward. "— into the Academy. They don't have ninja schools from where I come from and he has great potential, my lord. I wanted to place him into the guidance of a Leaf shinobi so that he could be great ninja someday."

Kakashi looked at Mitsuki. His pale skin and snake like eyes looked nothing like Jinko at all. "Is he your son?" Kakashi voiced his suspicion.

Jinko looked down, "No, my lord. I'm his guardian." Kakashi kept his stoic face.

"And is that all you want?"

Jinko shook her head. "There's one more thing, lord Hokage. We wish to settle here, me and Mitsuki. If Mitsuki gets admitted in the Academy, I wish to stay with him. It is the duty that I've been assigned and also for personal reasons," Kakashi looked at the floor. "I hope what we ask isn't too much." Jinko finished.

"I need to counsel this with the others. As you can see, you are outsiders. Though you were a Leaf shinobi Jinko, you aren't now seeing as you don't have your headband. Also, this is a matter of security. It's nothing personal. The elders will discuss it and we will inform you as soon as possible. Till then you could stay in the village as visitors," Kakashi laid back in his chair.

"I understand, my lord." Jinko bowed and turned back to leave. "Oh, and Jinko," Kakashi stopper her. "If the decision is a negative, then you'd have to leave the village the very day. I'd would escort you myself to the village gates."

"Yes." Jinko replied firmly and left the room.

It was clear that he didn't trust her. He would have an ANBU to tail me. I bet he already asked for a background check on us by now, she thought.

"Jinko where will we go now?" Mitsuki asked looking up at her as they walked out of the building.

"We will stay in a hotel till the decision comes," she replied.

"What if they don't allow us to stay?"

"We will cross that bridge when it comes. But for now let's go find Ichiraku ramen shop!" Jinko tugged at Mitsuki's hand and dragged him to the streets of Konoha.